Bray Wanderers 0-4 Limerick

Axel Bossekota and Shane Tracy scored a brace apiece as Limerick cruised to their biggest win of the season.

The Carlisle Grounds victory lifts Stuart Taylor’s Shannonsiders above Shamrock Rovers into sixth place in the table as struggling Bray suffered a second successive thumping having lost 7-0 at Rovers last week.

In a lively start, Bray came within inches of stunning their visitors with the lead goal after just 35 seconds.

Kevin Knight got forward from left-back to put over a deep cross which Jason Byrne met first time on the volley to shave the top of Barry Ryan’s left-hand post.

But Limerick came to play and they soon carved Bray open with midfielder Tracy bringing the first save of the game from Darren Quigley on 12 minutes.

Five minutes later Limerick were deservedly in front. Danny Galbraith threaded a pass through for the run of Bossekota who skipped in on goal to chip the ball over the advancing Quigley for a fine finish.

Within a further four minutes the 24-year-old Belgian striker doubled Limerick’s lead to punish more negligent defending by Bray.

Tracy put over a delightful out-swinging cross from the left and Bossekota arrived at the far post to score with a calmly executed side-foot volley.

It got worse for Bray on 35 minutes when Tracy’s wonderful left-foot delivered a stunning free-kick directly to the back of Quigley’s net from some 25 yards.

The excellence of Ryan prevented Bray getting a goal back three minutes later, the Limerick keeper equal to Byrne’s volley to make a terrific one-handed save.

Another brilliant free-kick goal from Tracy sealed the points for Limerick on 64 minutes. A clumsy foul by Peter Thomas on Galbraith brought the free and Tracy’s left foot did the rest, curling the ball over the wall and into the top corner of the net from almost 30 yards.

Bray pressed late on and had chances, but couldn’t find a way past Ryan.

Byrne crashed a shot off a post when he should have scored after Ryan pushed away an Ismail Akinade shot on 76 minutes.

Minutes later Ryan tipped a shot from Marty Waters over the bar before making further stops to deprive John Mulroy and Akinade again.